Automated calibration of EMI fingerprint scanning instrumentation for utility power system counterfeit detection

Abstract

Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with automated calibration of electromagnetic interference (EMI) fingerprint scanning instrumentation based on radio frequencies are described. In one embodiment, a method for detecting a calibration state of an EMI fingerprint scanning device includes: collecting electromagnetic signals with the EMI fingerprint scanning device for a test period of time at a geographic location; identifying one or more peak frequency bands in the collected electromagnetic signals; comparing the one or more peak frequency bands to assigned radio station frequencies at the geographic location to determine if a match is found; and generating a calibration state signal based at least in part on the comparing to indicate whether the EMI fingerprint scanning device is calibrated or not calibrated.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for detecting a calibration state of an Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) fingerprint scanning device, the method comprising:
 collecting electromagnetic signals with the EMI fingerprint scanning device for a test period of time at a geographic location; 
 detecting one or more peak frequency bands in the collected electromagnetic signals; 
 comparing the one or more peak frequency bands to carrier or center frequencies assigned to local radio stations at the geographic location to determine if a match is found; and 
 generating a calibration state signal based at least in part on the comparing to indicate whether the EMI fingerprint scanning device is calibrated or not calibrated. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to the calibration state signal indicating the EMI fingerprint scanning device is calibrated, permitting initiation of an EMI fingerprint scan of a target device using the EMI fingerprint scanning device; and 
 in response to the calibration state signal indicating the EMI fingerprint scanning device is not calibrated, preventing initiation of the EMI fingerprint scan of the target device using the EMI fingerprint scanning device. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing an EMI fingerprint scan of a target utility device to generate an EMI fingerprint for the target utility device; 
 generating a calibration proof for the EMI fingerprint scan from the collected electromagnetic frequencies, the assigned radio station frequencies, and the calibration state signal; and 
 including the calibration proof with the EMI fingerprint. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, in response to the calibration validation signal indicating the EMI fingerprint scanning device is not calibrated, initiating a re-calibration process to cause calibration of the EMI fingerprint scanning device to be corrected. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the re-calibration process comprises:
 identify an error based at least on differences between one or more of the assigned radio station frequencies and one or more of the peak frequency bands in the collected electromagnetic signals; 
 derive a corrective coefficient from at least the error; and 
 apply the corrective coefficient to the radio receiver to cause the EMI fingerprint scanning device to be re-calibrated. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the comparison of the one or more peak frequency bands further comprises:
 requesting radio station frequency information for radio stations near the geographic location from a frequency data service; 
 parsing a response from the frequency data service to determine a list of the assigned local radio station frequencies; and 
 determining if any of the one or more peak frequency bands is included in the list, wherein a no-match signal is generated when no peak frequency band is included in the list, and a match signal is generated when a peak frequency band is included in the list. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the comparison of the one or more peak frequency bands further comprises, for at least one peak frequency band of the one or more peak frequency bands:
 requesting radio station identification information for radio stations near the geographic location that broadcast at the one peak frequency band from a frequency data service; and 
 parsing a response from the frequency data service to determine if the one peak frequency band is assigned to a radio station, wherein a no-match signal is generated when the response does not include a radio station identification for the one peak frequency band, and a match signal is generated when the response includes a radio station identification for the one peak frequency band. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 presenting a prompt on a graphical user interface of the EMI fingerprint scanning device to input the geographic location; and 
 accepting user input in response to the prompt as the geographic location. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising accepting latitude and longitude coordinates from a global positioning system (GPS) receiver associated with the EMI fingerprint scanning device as the geographic location. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to the calibration state signal indicating the EMI fingerprint scanning device is calibrated, presenting a visual calibration verification on a graphical user interface of the scanning device, and 
 in response to the calibration state signal indicating the EMI fingerprint scanning device is not calibrated, presenting a visual calibration warning on the graphical user interface of the scanning device. 
 
     
     
       11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for detecting a calibration state of an Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) fingerprint scanning device that, when executed by at least a processor of the EMI fingerprint scanning device, cause the EMI fingerprint scanning device to:
 collect electromagnetic signals with the EMI fingerprint scanning device for a test period of time at a geographic location; 
 detect one or more peak frequency bands in the collected electromagnetic signals; 
 compare the one or more peak frequency bands to carrier or center frequencies assigned to local radio stations at the geographic location to determine if a match is found; and 
 generate a calibration state signal based at least in part on the comparing to indicate whether the EMI fingerprint scanning device is calibrated or not calibrated. 
 
     
     
       12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions further cause the EMI fingerprint scanning device to:
 permit initiation of an EMI fingerprint scan of a target device using the EMI fingerprint scanning device in response to the calibration state signal indicating the EMI fingerprint scanning device is calibrated; and 
 prevent initiation of the EMI fingerprint scan of the target device using the EMI fingerprint scanning device in response to the calibration state signal indicating the EMI fingerprint scanning device is not calibrated. 
 
     
     
       13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein in response to the calibration validation signal indicating the EMI fingerprint scanning device is not calibrated the instructions further cause the EMI fingerprint scanning device to:
 identify an error based at least on differences between one or more of the assigned radio station frequencies and one or more of the peak frequency bands in the collected electromagnetic signals; 
 derive a corrective coefficient from at least the error; and 
 apply the corrective coefficient to the radio receiver to cause the EMI fingerprint scanning device to be re-calibrated. 
 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions for the comparison of the one or more peak frequency bands further cause the EMI fingerprint scanning device to:
 request information for radio stations near the geographic location from a frequency data service; and 
 use at least a portion of information returned by the frequency data service to determine whether to generate a match signal or a no-match signal. 
 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions further cause the EMI fingerprint scanning device to accept latitude and longitude coordinates from a global positioning system (GPS) receiver associated with the EMI fingerprint scanning device as the geographic location. 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions further cause the EMI fingerprint scanning device to:
 present a visual calibration verification on a graphical user interface of the scanning device in response to the calibration state signal indicating the EMI fingerprint scanning device is calibrated, and 
 present a visual calibration warning on the graphical user interface of the scanning device in response to the calibration state signal indicating the EMI fingerprint scanning device is not calibrated. 
 
     
     
       17. An Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) fingerprint scanning device, comprising:
 a processor; 
 a memory operably connected to the processor; 
 a radio receiver operably connected to the processor and memory; 
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for detecting a calibration state of an Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) fingerprint scanning device that, when executed by at least the processor, cause the EMI fingerprint scanning device to:
 collect electromagnetic signals with the EMI fingerprint scanning device for a test period of time at a geographic location; 
 detect one or more peak frequency bands in the collected electromagnetic signals; 
 compare the one or more peak frequency bands to carrier or center frequencies assigned to local radio stations at the geographic location to determine if a match is found; and 
 generate a calibration state signal based at least in part on the comparing to indicate whether the EMI fingerprint scanning device is calibrated or not calibrated. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The EMI fingerprint scanning device of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions further cause the EMI fingerprint scanning device to:
 permit initiation of an EMI fingerprint scan of a target device using the EMI fingerprint scanning device in response to the calibration state signal indicating the EMI fingerprint scanning device is calibrated; and 
 prevent initiation of the EMI fingerprint scan of the target device using the EMI fingerprint scanning device in response to the calibration state signal indicating the EMI fingerprint scanning device is not calibrated. 
 
     
     
       19. The EMI fingerprint scanning device of  claim 17 , wherein in response to the calibration validation signal indicating the EMI fingerprint scanning device is not calibrated the instructions further cause the EMI fingerprint scanning device to:
 identify an error based at least on differences between one or more of the assigned radio station frequencies and one or more of the peak frequency bands in the collected electromagnetic signals; 
 derive a corrective coefficient from at least the error; and 
 apply the corrective coefficient to the radio receiver to cause the EMI fingerprint scanning device to be re-calibrated. 
 
     
     
       20. The EMI fingerprint scanning device of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions for the comparison of the one or more peak frequency bands further cause the EMI fingerprint scanning device to:
 request information for radio stations near the geographic location from a frequency data service; and 
 use at least a portion of information returned by the frequency data service to determine whether to generate a match signal or a no-match signal.